There isn’t any real Detroit Red Wings hockey, so we are taking it virtually and simulating the season game by game, starting with Saturday’s trip to Tampa Bay against the Lightning.Yeah, this is where we’re at, y’all.
There isn’t any NHL hockey for the foreseeable future, so I’m searching for a fix. The initial feelings of COVID-19 have worn off, and now the new reality is setting in.
There really aren’t any sports on.
I’m an avid video gamer if you regularly read us here at The Octopus Thrower, so we’re going to go through and simulating the season one game at a time.
First up, the Detroit Red Wings visit general manager Steve Yzerman’s old stomping grounds in Tampa Bay against the Lightning. The last time these two teams met, the Red Wings shocked the league with a 5-4 shootout victory March 8, ending a 16-game losing streak against the Bolts from Florida.
So, how did the team do in the rematch?
NHL 20 Simulation: Detroit Red Wings at Tampa Bay Lightning
First and foremost, rapper Snoop Dog was in the house for this one, so you know how important this one was going to be. I mean, who doesn’t want to show-out against the D-O-Double GG?
For those who don’t know, Snoop Dogg is a commentator (and later added as a player) in EA Sports’ NHL 20.
The Red Wings must have been listening to Snoop’s “Who am I?” 1993 track, because they came out hot with a goal from forward Robby Fabbri just 4:12 into the game with a nice wrist shot past Andrei Vasilevskiy to continue his strong play since the team acquired him in November 2019.
Then it became a back and forth battle with Lightning forward Ondrej Palat tying the game, Christopher Ehn giving the Red Wings a 2-1 lead, but then losing it again to Barclay Goodrow.
An added goal late in the first gave Tampa Bay a 3-2 lead after one.
End of First: Lightning 3, Red Wings 2
After a flurry of scoring in the first period, the game was tighter in the second. Defenseman Filip Hronek tied the game late off a slapshot that beat Vasilevskiy blocker side before heading to the dressing rooms.
End of Second: Lightning 3, Red Wings 3
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The third period was an instant classic, especially for a Red Wings team who hasn’t had much flare for the dramatic. Did it end how Red Wings fans wanted? Keep reading, silly. Or just scroll to the bottom, but that’s not nice.
Anyways, Valtteri Filppula gave the Red Wings the lead early in the third period off an unassisted rebound goal, but then Lightning defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk tied the game at 4 less than a minute later.
With the game tied late in the third, the Red Wings crumbled.
Nikita Kucherov wristed a shot at goalie Jonathan Bernier, who gave up a huge rebound to Palat – who ultimately ended the game on a put-back goal with 21.9 remaining for his second goal of the night.
Even in the virtual world, the Red Wings lose, 5-4.
Final Score: Lightning 5, Red Wings 4
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